TV in a toddlers room?

I am contemplating this. Jack turned three in June. Here's our backstory and I would love some advice.

He naps about once every 3-4 days now. I still put him in his room for at least an hour (closer to 1.5) for some quiet time (aka Mommy needs a break time)

On the days that he actually naps he does not go to bed until 9:30. I put him in at 8 last night and he had me up and down those stairs until 9:10. It was torture.

On the days he doesn't nap he is in bed and sleeping by 7:15. I don't mind the 5:30 wake up call when he goes to bed at 7:15 - but it feels like I don't even get a break when he goes to bed after 9 and is up at 5:30.

My thoughts are this:

Put a TV in his room so that he can watch movies in there during his quiet time (which means he won't nap - which I'm ok with - and he will go to bed at a decent hour)

Put a TV in his room so that when he wakes up at 5:30 he can chill out in bed watching a show until a decent hour.

My dad has been on me to put a TV in his room since he was born, and so has DH. I'm thinking I may cave in, for my own sanity.

I would make it a point that the TV would ONLY be on during those times.....just like the DVD player in the car - we only use it for long car rides, and he knows it doesn't go on for anything else.

HELP!

Signed,
Absolutely exhausted Mommy!

Message edited 10/26/2010 8:43:19 AM.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

As another wiped out mom, I can relate. But I will not be putting a tv in ds room. Dh wants to and keeps saying we I'll when he is older. I'm not a fan. I figure he watches enough tv during the day, that at night or early in the morning is then too much. I also know from my nephew that he figured out how to put it on al by himself, and would wake in the middle of the night just to watch tv. Ds already knows how to turn on the tv in the living room. He will never sleep if he could get to it in his room.


Then I would totally be a nutcase.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I will not be putting a tv in Landon's room. I feel like it could lead to more problems. Like Jen said, refusing to go to sleep because he wants to watch tv, or waking up in the middle of the night or super early to watch tv etc.
But that's me... I don't have a problem getting Landon to bed. Why don't you try it out and see how it goes. You can always remove the tv if it doesn't work out. Actually i have some extra TVs if you need one.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Posted by JennZ

As another wiped out mom, I can relate. But I will not be putting a tv in ds room. Dh wants to and keeps saying we I'll when he is older. I'm not a fan. I figure he watches enough tv during the day, that at night or early in the morning is then too much. I also know from my nephew that he figured out how to put it on al by himself, and would wake in the middle of the night just to watch tv. Ds already knows how to turn on the tv in the living room. He will never sleep if he could get to it in his room.


Then I would totally be a nutcase.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

To me, I don't see the big deal...

We have a TV in DD's room. It's been there since before she was born. As a newborn, when I was up with her all night, I would rock in the glider with her and watch TV.

We use it at bedtime, we put on the classical music channel.

Right now, the only time it's on is in the morning when she gets up and has her sippy and gets dressed. And then at bedtime with the music channel while she gets her sippy.

Nap time, is naptime, she sleeps and never asks for the TV. I don't know if that will ever change.

But I'm in the mindset of, mommy needs a break, and do whatever you need to, to get that break.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I would do it. If it doesn't work out, you can always take it away.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I've had a TV in Thomas' room since he was born, but it was in there for me. I most often BFd in his room in the glider and I wanted TV to watch for my own sanity.

Thomas rarely watches it. Occasionally he watches it while I'm getting ready in the morning if he wakes earlier than usual, but more often if this happens, he watches TV in my bed.

Once or twice I put it on for him in the middle of the night when he was sick and awake to at least keep him in his own bed.

It's hard to say if it will work or cause more problems, but it's worth a shot. This whole parenting thing is mostly trial and error...



Good luck!

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I wouldn't, but that's just me. Will other things keep him busy, like toys or books? Coloring books?

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

We are in a somewhat similar situation. I think DS still needs a nap and will sleep at preschool, but not at home most weekends since we transitioned to a bed. The difference for us is that he will go to bed around 7:30 if he doesn't take the nap. He does wake up around 6, but we have also had phases of the 5 or 5:30 wake up, so I feel your pain.

I definitely see the attraction of putting the TV in there, but when I see DS watching TV, I don't think it would be quiet time for him. I generally just leave him gated in the room for an hour, even if he won't sleep. I am not a fan of TV in bedrooms, DH and I don't have one either. I feel like if I put it in there now, it's never coming out and I think it would become a problem as he gets older and it would be harder to monitor what and how much he is watching it.

ETA - For full disclosure, I am not a SAHM and only have one DC, so I think in general it's easier for me to get a break than you.

Message edited 10/26/2010 9:29:57 AM.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Noah has a TV hooked to a VCR and a DVD player in his room. NO CABLE...

So he can watch a movie at night before bed...its his routine, he falls asleep to it.

I see the plus in it for the reasons you mentioned.

I would prefer in aperfect world to not have any TV in there, but he is honestly not in his room at all during the day...So me I compromised. For you I would think it is similiar.

Message edited 10/26/2010 9:30:23 AM.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I was so against this but we have decided to cave. I recently had a baby who is very demanding and for my own sanity would love to have somewhere my dd can relax and unwind I think we are going to wait till christmas

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

never say never...every kid is different.
mine eats 95% of his meals in front of the tv.

if he is sent upstairs for quiet time, he will read and play trains.
so i wouldn't put one in josh's room.

for you, go for it.
If you feel like this will give you the extra go that you need, do it. If greeting him at 6:30 instead of 5:30 is going to make a big difference in your mood for the morning, do it.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I am not a fan of tv and my DD is not one to sit and watch tv- usually it's just on for background noise. BUT she does watch one show before bed. She was sick a few weeks ago and we let her sleep in our bed- DH slept in her bed- and guess what? She's still in our bed. I know we need to bite the bullet but it's hard- I get up at 5 during the week and I just don't have it in me to fight with her till 10, which has happened. She's also been in the habit of watching her bedtime show in our room. So I may suggest to DH that we get one with a DVD only- then she can be out of our room for good. If she was a rabid tv watcher I'd never do it.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

My 2.5 yr old has a TV. in her room. She only watches it when I need her too. Like when I take a shower(there is a gate on her door), if she is out of control while I am cooking dinner etc. She will also watch it in the AM while I am getting Jordan ready for school. She NEVER asks for it.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I think it really depends on the kid. Rylan has a tv in his room that he used to watch everyday. I started putting it on when I showered because the bathroom is right next to his room and I knew he would stay in there until I was done. He then started asking me to put it on random times during the day which I did. Unfortunately he started climbing on his dresser to lay down and watch so I stopped letting him use it...I just said it was broken and he was ok with that. The only time it's used now is if i'm in the room doing something that will take a while. Either i'll turn it on or he will himself. I keep the cable box on...on ch 123 so he just needs to push the power on the side of the tv which he can reach himself.

Rylan is all about his cartoons in the livingroom so i'm suprised it's so easy to keep the bedroom one off. I can see it causing a HUGE issue with some kids though.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I have a TV in Aj's room. I couldnt imagine not having a TV in that room. Just because the TV is there doesnt mean it has to be on all day for the kid to watch.

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Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I am very against the tv's in the kids rooms

these kids are going to be glued to their electronic devices and computers once they even get a little bit older and I dont see why i should start it even earlier

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I wouldn't. DS used to wake up at 5:30 in the morning. I would come out into the living room with him. Yes, the TV would go on - becuase like you I don't really have the energy at 5:30 in the morning. But I would get to lie on the couch while he played with his toys and watched.

I just feel like his bedroom is for sleeping and occasionally playing in. I wouldn't want a TV in there.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

I would like to try getting my daughter into the habit of reading a book in bed, so I won't give her a tv in her room as she gets older. However, if she does get into the habit of reading in bed, and then still wants a tv as an alternative, I would try it and see if she uses it responsibility and alternates between reading and tv. If she doesn't, I would take away the tv.

At least--this is my plan. I'm still awhile away from that.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

DS has a tv in his room... he turned 3 in August.

DD will be getting one for her 2nd birthday.

DS doesnt nap so when i need quiet time he goes and watches TV in his room.

Re: TV in a toddlers room?

We got given a TV for Danielle by our neighbors. We didn't hook up the cable to her room, but she does have the TV. To be honest, she rarely watches it, but we're in a different situation than you are.

She's in daycare 5 days, so on those days, we get ready and get out of the house. Although, she'll watch TV in our room while I get ready.

Recently, if I needed her to start winding down, I'll put her in her bed w/ her choice of movie. She stays in there and when it's over, she knows it's over. TV is off and she's falling asleep.

There are also a few times where I simply need to get something done and I can't have her roaming up and down the stairs, so I'll ask if she wants to watch a movie in her room. I can fold clothes etc.. while she's doing this.

I was against it at first... but when we got it as a gift and we monitor the use, it's really been a big help.

Good luck!